Landing gear for flying machines



1,623,961 P" 12 1927' c. DORNIER LANDING GEAR FOR FLYING MACHINES Original Filed June 15. 1921 Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE. I

CLAUDIUS DORNIEB, OF FRIEDRIGHSHAFEN-QN THE-BODENsEE, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO FIRM ZEPPELINWEBK L'INIDAU GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHBKNKTER HAFTUNG,

OF LINDAU-REUTIN, GERMANY.

LANDING GEAR FOR FLYING MIACHINES.

Original application filed June 15, 1921, Serial No. 477,843, and in Germany December 4, 1920. Divided and this application filed'May 22, 1924. Serial No. 715,261.

My invention refers to flying /machines and more especially to a flying boat and its v particular object is to provide a machine of this kind which, is adaptedto start from and land on water snow,- ice or solid ground.

To this end a starting wheel or pair of wheels is mounted in the bottom of the boat substantially in the middle axis of the boats hull which is provided with lateral fins, and at the outer ends of these fins supporting wheels, spikes or runners are mounted. If the flylng boat is designed to be used mainly for landing on snow or ice, the starting and landing wheels mountedbelow the boats hull can be replaced by sledge runners.

In the drawings aflixed to this specification and forming part thereof, two flying boats embodying my invention are illustrated by way of example. In the drawings Figs. 1 and 2 are a side andfront elevation, respectivelyyof a flying boat provided with a pair of wheels on the hull and a '25 spike at the end of each fin, while Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of a flying boat in which the wheels are replaced by sledge runners.

80 Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is the placed across it, the motor 3 and traction propeller 4 being mounted forward of the wing. A pair of large startin wheels 10 is mounted in a cavity provide in the bottom of the hull 11;.5, 5 are fins or stump wings extending laterally of the bottom portion of the hull and 12 are spikes resiliently mounted at the ends of the fins.

' By mounting the start-in wheels in a cavity of the boats hull all t e difficulties encountered with the carriages usually employed in connection with flying boats in order to enable them to start from solid ground are avoided, the more so as these wheels can bemounted in the hull in an easily detachable manner.

The ikes mounted at the ends of the fins and wh ch might as well be replaced by disboats hull with a self supporting wing 2 engageably mounted lateral wheels, serve for supporting the craft against lateral .tilting.' Another spike 6 can be mounted below the rear portion-of the hull and preferixbllyl at a step provided on the bottom of the In the flying boat illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 and which closely resembles the craft shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the starting wheels are replaced by on the bottom of the hull, these runners being spaced wider apart in order to more safely support the hull in starting and landing. These runners project so far below the bottom of the hull that this latter, when glidon snow or ice is protected against inj y- I wish it to be understood that I do not 'desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in'the art.

I claim:;- 3 I .1- Flying boat comprising a boats hull, a wing, fins extending-laterally of the forward portion of said hull, starting 'means mounted below the bottom ofsaid hull, without projecting laterally thereof and sup} porting means at, the end of said fins.

sledge runners 14 mounted 2. F ying boat comprising a boats hull, a

wing, fins extending laterally of the forward portion of said hul a starting wheel mounted belowthe bottom of said hull without projecting laterally thereof and supporting means at the end of said fins.

w' s extending laterally ofjthe forwar portion of said hull, apair of startin wheelsmounted below the bottom of said hu 1 without rojectin laterally thereof and 3. Flglilng'boat comprising a bpats hull, a

wing, fins extendin laterally of the for ward portion of semi hull, starting'means mounted below the bottom of said hull without projecting laterally thereof and a spike at the end of each fin.

6. Flying boat comprising a boats hull, a wing, fins extendinglaterally of the forward portion of said hull, a starting wheel mounted below the bottom of said hull without projecting laterally thereof and a spike at 10 the end of" each fin.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GLAUDIUS DORNIER. 

